Cost of Golf

[Aus2Sing]

Hi, I have heard golf is expensive in Singapore. Anyone have any indications on the cost of a round?

[sundaymorningstaple]

You are better off going to Johor or Batam for your golfing fix.

[ecureilx]

Hi, I have heard golf is expensive in Singapore. Anyone have any indications on the cost of a round?

I was always told golf is cheap, the golf club memberships are exorbitant.

There's quite a few Singaporeans who cross the straits to Golf in Malaysia or take a ferry to Bintan!

[Strong Eagle]

Hi, I have heard golf is expensive in Singapore. Anyone have any indications on the cost of a round?

I have played a lot of golf in and around Singapore. There is only one public, 18 hole golf course in Singapore and that is Marina Bay. Weekend rates are $120 for citizens, $140 for PR's, $185 for EP holders with a cheap golf membership, and $225 for visitors. Night golf will add a $27 lighting charge.

There are three 9 hole courses. I have played two. One is Green Fairways (now called Champions Golf). It's par 34 and is quite a bit of fun to play. It's hilly terrain, no golf carts, carry or wheel your bag. Weekends are $55 for 9 holes, $82.50 for 18.

The other is a 9 hole course located in the otherwise private National Service Resort & Country Club. It hasn't got much going for it... flat, short. I forget what it costs.

Golf memberships can be very expensive in Singapore with Laguna National popping S$250K. And you still have to pay pretty stiff green fees. Others are less expensive and some offer yearly memberships at $3000 and up. By stiff fees, I'm talking $100 and up, even after membership.

Your best bets by far are golf courses in Malaysia and on Batam or Bintan islands. There are quite a few courses Johor Bahru, the fanciest of which will cost you S$130-150. Palm Resort is about S$80 to 100 all in, except for caddy fee, and I forget if that is mandatory.

The main downside to Malaysia golf is that you have to use the Woodland crossing for all except Palm Resort, and the evening return can be a long wait. You also have to pay fairly stiff crossing fees... I don't know what they are now.

There is a really great golf course on Bintan island. Ria Bintan has two courses, Ocean and Forest. You really haven't golfed until you're putting on a green overlooking the South China Sea. Ferry, cart, and golf will set you back S$220 on a weekend.

Your best bet for "economy" golf will be on Batam Island. I’ve played Tering Bay extensively, as well as four other courses… Palm Springs, Indah Puri, Southlinks, and Batam Hills Golf Resort. Palm Springs and Tering Bay are reachable by ferry from Tanah Merah ferry terminal while the others are reached from by ferry from the Harbourfront terminal.

Tering Bay will cost you $150, all in, for ferry, golf, transportation, and visas. If you become a member at Tering Bay, (about S$1500), you get a multiple entry Indo visa and $32 golf, as well as discounts on food, beverage, and pro shop. I played nearly every weekend, and this was the best for me. I played about 40 times a year at T-Bay... so with ferry, amortized membership, golf fees, a round cost me about $70. Let me add that a one time visa takes up one page in your passport, so you can very quickly fill a lot of pages. The multi-entry visa that comes with membership eliminates that problem.

Other courses on Batam offer similar setups but when I was there, all were more expensive than Tering Bay. And, T-Bay is so laid back... lovely female caddies, no pressure to keep up.

Bottom line: Golf costs more than for most public courses in the USA.